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Ordering metal

My project is a special size trailer. dual 3500# axles but the bed is only 9' long with no floor.
The metal I will be needing (rounded up to the next foot):
3x2x0.120 tubing (tongue) 2 each @ 8'
2.5x1.5x0.120 tubing (side rails) 2 each @ 9'
2.5x1.5x0.120 tubing (cross rails) 2 each @ 7'
3x3x3/16 angle iron (adjustable spring mounts) 2 each @ 6'

(FYI, I can cut the metal to the correct length and I expect some waste. I know I can't order odd lengths.)

Now the questions about ordering the metal.
a) what are 'standard lengths'?
b) do smaller lengths have a larger per foot cost?
c) do the steel shops 'mind' small orders like this?
d) do most supplies have normal delivery routes and you just wait for the right day?
e) are delivery charges normally based on weight, number of items, or something else.
f) do I just call them up and say 'I need some metal to make a trailer' or do I need to know more about steel types and such?
g) are they used to newbies ordering stuff and so can guide one though the order process?

My project is a special size trailer. dual 3500# axles but the bed is only 9' long with no floor.
The metal I will be needing (rounded up to the next foot):
3x2x0.120 tubing (tongue) 2 each @ 8'
2.5x1.5x0.120 tubing (side rails) 2 each @ 9'
2.5x1.5x0.120 tubing (cross rails) 2 each @ 7'
3x3x3/16 angle iron (adjustable spring mounts) 2 each @ 6'

(FYI, I can cut the metal to the correct length and I expect some waste. I know I can't order odd lengths.)

Now the questions about ordering the metal.
a) what are 'standard lengths'?
b) do smaller lengths have a larger per foot cost?
c) do the steel shops 'mind' small orders like this?
d) do most supplies have normal delivery routes and you just wait for the right day?
e) are delivery charges normally based on weight, number of items, or something else.
f) do I just call them up and say 'I need some metal to make a trailer' or do I need to know more about steel types and such?
g) are they used to newbies ordering stuff and so can guide one though the order process?
thanks,
tony

OMG!!! First of all, you don't list your location so I don't know how you would expect anyone to know what goes on in your neck of the woods. Second, one quick phone call to your local steelyard would answer all these questions without making it look like you are a rookie trying to build a specialty trailer.

I think you need to really take a serious look at the questions Dave asked regarding your background.

I'm not the trailer expert Dave (Dabar39) is, but it would seem to me that the material you spec'd out is mighty light for a trailer needing tandem 3500# axles. That material seems more suited to a 1500-2000# single axle trailer.

Most tubing lengths common in the Chicago area are 20 and 24 ft lengths...2x3 in this area is going around $5 per foot for 120 wall.........figure the smaller stuff at less expensive...Thats just in this area for small quantities....and they will cut to length and sell partial lengths to order. Jim

Experience level:
Did a LOT of welding on street-rods, autos and and stuff in a previous life, about 30 years ago. All the steel was provided by my employer so I never got into that area and even if I did, that was 3 states away and 30 year old knowledge. This will be my first project in 30 years, so I plan on buying some extra material and jigging up some practice welds that I can then cut with a band saw to check the weld depth and such.

I will be using an Idealarc 250 AC/DC welder. I normally use 7018 rods.

As to the material size:
I have went back and forth on the sizes. I could still bump each section up a size. The trailer load is a railroad maintenance item pic on metal wheels that form a 69x57" rectangle. I estimate (on the very high side) 1500# on each front point and 1000# on each back point. Front to back, they will be within 3" of the outer spring hangers using 26" springs. Sideways, they will be about 10" narrower that the spring hangers. The springs will actually be mounted on the 3" angle-iron. The trailer frame will then sit inside the 3" angle. This will allow me to fine-tune the axle location to get the right tongue weight once I have the unit on the trailer. It will also provide some more strength. The actual unit will sit on 1.5x1.5 square tubing that will run front to back acting as a 'rail-head', but there will be a frame crossbeam right under each wheel to support the load going down the road. The frame extension to the rear is just to get the bumper out from under the unit. The frame extension to the front is just to add some more stability to the 'V' tongue. The load will be rolled on, but stands will be used under the rear bumper during loading and unloading. All in all, cantilever weight is not a real big concern so that is why I dropped the frame from 3x2down to 2.5x1.5. Actually, two 3500# axles (with brakes on both) may be an overkill, but if at some point I leave the hobby, I could just remove them and use then on a standard utility trailer.

Now the questions about ordering the metal.
a) what are 'standard lengths'?
b) do smaller lengths have a larger per foot cost?
c) do the steel shops 'mind' small orders like this?
d) do most supplies have normal delivery routes and you just wait for the right day?
e) are delivery charges normally based on weight, number of items, or something else.
f) do I just call them up and say 'I need some metal to make a trailer' or do I need to know more about steel types and such?
g) are they used to newbies ordering stuff and so can guide one though the order process?

for the most part, it depends on the supplier
call them and ask. i'm a (more or less) newbie at all this
and have found most of them to be helpful. the ones that
aren't get crossed off my list.

of course, "an educated consumer is our best customer"

'standard lengths' generally are the lengths that come from
the "wholesaler" or mill and are kept in stock at the supplier,
and are in the 20'/22'/24' area or the like.

most will cut for you. some charge per cut. some do not.
many will cut pretty accurately (1/8" or better), a few
are +/- an inch. (for what it's worth, the place i usually
go to will cut for free, but the cuts are with an o/a torch
and are "accurate" to about an inch... or so... maybe...

costs are usually based on the weight of material - 1' costs
1/10th as much as 10'. i've not been surcharged, as it were,
for something less than the 24' -- but i'm also not doing
precision work and am willing to take 'remnants', or if
i want 8' and they have a 9' section, i'll take the whole thing.

you should know the types of material you need for your projects.
i do garden art, and doo-dads for stuff around the house. nothing
is 'critical'. so i can ask for "mild steel" or the like -- since i don't
care which exact grade it is. i don't know if trailers should use
specific grades of steel, but if they do, you should know what grade
you need and ask specifically for it (and if you do not know the answer
here, you might want to take to heart dave's comments :-).

Not saying you're not capable of building said trailer. You seem to have a good idea about what must be done to insure safety.

Think you'll find that by the time you buy all your materials at retail (steel, axles, wheels, brakes, hitch connector, lights, etc) you'd be ahead of the game by having somebody like Dabar39 (Commercial trailer builder) build it for you to your specs.

If you haven't bought any steel in a while, be prepared for a "shock". Here in Virginia, steel has gone up nearly 30% in the last 6 mos. It's supposed to be headed down, but I haven't seen it yet.